WWE Monday Night RAW Results
March 25, 2013
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video hypes The Rock and John Cena appearing in the ring together for the first time since Old School RAW. The video also hypes the Undertaker demanding that CM Punk return Paul Bearer’s urn. Punk says that he is the one in twenty and one.
CM Punk’s music hits, and he comes out to a mixed reception in a packed house at the Wells Fargo Center. His manager Paul Heyman accompanies him. Heyman is holding the Undertaker’s urn up. Heyman is sporting a black eye from his confrontation with Triple H last week. Heyman tosses Punk the urn. Punk places it in the center of the ring. Punk says that “they” say Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania will never be beaten. “They” say that this Deadman is unstoppable on the grandest stage of them all. “They” also say in hushed tones that the urn somehow feeds the Undertaker power and is connected to his spirit. Punk says “they” have a lot of opinions, and “they” say a lot of stupid things. Who are “they”? Do “they” really know what “they” are talking about? He doesn’t think so. Everyone has opinions, but the only opinion that matters and becomes irrefutable fact when spoken is his. “They” are irrelevant. He’s the only one who matters.
Last year, the Undertaker went to 20-0. Twenty times he came to the ring, and twenty times he beat whoever was in front of him. It’s a great legacy that should have ended there. Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels should have skipped into the sunset, but Undertaker ruined it all by walking out on his show and pointing at his sign. Punk points to the WrestleMania sign. Now, because of his actions, a man who is not afraid of the dark is rewriting his storybook WrestleMania career. This man is not scared of the streak. This man is the best in the world. The crowd can boo all they want, but they can blame the Undertaker because it’s all his fault. Punk holds the urn up. He says he didn’t take it to disrespect Paul Bearer. He took it because of what it means to the Undertaker. That urn means everything to the Undertaker, but it doesn’t mean a damn thing to him, just like the streak. Punk then callously drops the urn.
Undertaker is a man who does not possess anything he wants. His streak is his. He earned it. All Punk wants to do is break it. Punk says he has something that belongs to him that Undertaker very much wants. Punk picks up the urn and looks at it. For the first time, Undertaker is at the psychological disadvantage and is scared. Undertaker should have stayed away. If he came back against any other man, he could have gone to 21-0. He could have gone to 50-0. He is not just any other man. He is CM Punk, and there is no one in the world that is better or smarter than him. No one in the world will beat him at WrestleMania. Punk says he is the one in twenty and one. Punk says he’s here waiting for the lights to go out and the chill to enter the arena. He’s waiting for the magic words, “Rest in peace.” He’s never been afforded peace or respect. At WrestleMania, Undertaker and his perfect record will Rest In Peace.
The legendary bell tolls and the lights go out in the arena. The lights come back on, and Undertaker is in the ring! Undertaker unleashes some vicious punches on CM Punk! Undertaker uppercuts him down, and the urn falls out of the ring. Paul Heyman quickly grabs it and runs to the back. Punk also rolls out of the ring and runs to the stage. Undertaker paces in the ring as Punk smiles at him with the urn at the top of the ramp. Punk taunts him with the urn.
John Cena and The Rock will face a panel of WWE Hall of Famers tonight in the ring. Fandango will finally make his in-ring debut, next.
-Commercial Break-
Fandango makes his entrance along with a female dancer. He dances down to the ring, and he has a microphone. Fandango begins to say his name when Chris Jericho’s music hits. Jericho charges the ring and takes him down. Jericho punches and chops away at him. Jericho sends him into the ropes, but Fandango holds on and bails out of the ring. Fandango screams at him to say his name as he backs up the ramp.
Dolph Ziggler’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring with Big E. Langston and AJ. This match was supposed to happen later, but it has been pushed up since Jericho just ruined Fandango’s in-ring debut.
Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Big E. Langston and AJ
They circle the ring before Jericho takes him down. Jericho punches away at him before sending him into the ropes. Jericho hits a back elbow before executing a suplex. Jericho kicks and punches away at him before sending him into the ropes again. Ziggler counters Jericho by kicking him in the face and punching him down. Ziggler gets him to his feet, but Jericho blocks a punch. Jericho chops the chest, but he has a whip reversed on him. Ziggler leapfrogs him, but Jericho catches him in a Walls of Jericho attempt. Ziggler kicks him off, but Jericho quickly comes back with a back elbow. Jericho goes to the top rope and hits a cross-body block for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jericho trapped in a chin lock. During the commercial break, Langston pulled Jericho off the apron. Jericho fights up from the chin lock and gets a schoolboy, but Ziggler kicks out. Ziggler immediately comes back with a dropkick for a two count. Ziggler splashes him in the corner, and Jericho falls to the mat. Ziggler walks around Jericho and kicks him. Jericho comes back with some chops before going into the ropes, but Ziggler counters him with an abdominal stretch. Jericho elbows him in the quadriceps and hip tosses him off. Jericho pulls himself up, sidesteps a splash, and hits a shoulder block.
Jericho hits the ropes and hits a second shoulder block. Jericho goes back into the ropes, and Ziggler uses his momentum to send him over the top rope, but Jericho lands on the apron. Jericho goes to the top rope, and he surprises him with a double axe handle. Jericho clotheslines him in the corner, but has a whip to the opposite corner reversed. Jericho catches him charging with a boot, and he follows up with a bulldog. Langston gets on the apron, and Jericho takes him out with a springboard dropkick. Jericho then turns into a leaping DDT from Ziggler for a near fall. Ziggler stalks him as he gets up. Ziggler goes for the sleeper hold, but Jericho sends him off. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Ziggler twists him off. Jericho counters a famouser into the Walls of Jericho! Jericho digs his knee into the back of his head, and he picks up the submission victory!
Winner by Submission: Chris Jericho
Match Rating: * ¾
Big E. Langston quickly takes Jericho out from behind. Langston scoops him up and drops him with the Big Ending. Langston and Ziggler stand over him and talk some trash.
They leave the ring, and Fandango comes down to the ring with his dancer. They both get in the ring and dance in front of Jericho’s broken body. The dancer then leaves the ring, and Fandango assaults Jericho with kicks and punches. Fandango screams at him to say his name as he beats him up. Jericho comes back with a chop, but Fandango quickly grounds him with a big boot. The crowd is chanting, “You can’t wrestle” at Fandango as he makes his way to the top rope. Fandango poses before nailing a high-flying leg drop. Fandango grabs a microphone, and he says his name for the crowd. Fandango then dances away to the back.
We’ll see a preview of the No Holds Barred match between Triple H and Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. Triple H’s career will be on the line in that match. He’ll address that later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania XXIX is 13 days away.
Matt Striker is backstage with Sheamus. They show a replay of the main event from Smackdown, which saw Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Big Show team up to beat 3MB. Sheamus blind tagged in and finished the match when Big Show got in trouble. Big Show took exception to that and got into a shoving match with Sheamus. The Shield made their way to the ring during that, but Big Show and Sheamus reunited at the sight of the enemy. Striker asks if Sheamus and Orton have buried the hatchet with Big Show yet. Sheamus says he didn’t trust Big Show as quickly as Orton did. Sheamus realized something, but before he can say what, The Shield attacks him and viciously beats him down. All of a sudden, Randy Orton appears swinging a steel chair. They soon get the best of Orton as well. Big Show then shows up, and he fights The Shield off. They retreat. Big Show helps his two partners up.
Mark Henry makes his way to the ring. He’ll compete in a two-on-one handicap match, next.
-Commercial Break-
The WWE Rewind is The Shield assaulting Ryback two weeks ago on Smackdown at the start of his match against Mark Henry. Henry then fed on the bones of Ryback with three consecutive World’s Strongest Slams.
Mark Henry vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso
Jey will start out the match against Henry. They lock up, and Henry throws him down. Henry simply throws him across the ring, and Jimmy is tagged in. Henry kicks and clubs him down. Henry sends him into the ropes, and Jey blind tags in. Jimmy ducks a clothesline and dropkicks him. Jey follows up with a superkick, and Jimmy takes him down with a second superkick. Jey hits a Superfly Splash for a near fall. Henry gets up, and Jey continues punching him. Henry head-butts him down before sending Jimmy into the ring post. Henry turns Jey inside out with a clothesline. Henry finishes him off with a World’s Strongest Slam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Mark Henry
Match Rating: ¼ *
Mark Henry goes to leave, but he notices Jimmy Uso still down at ringside. Henry throws him into the ring and screams at him to get up. Henry then drops him with a World’s Strongest Slam before screaming, “That’s what I do!” Henry looks at Jey writhing around in pain, and he hits him with another World’s Strongest Slam. Henry goes over to Jimmy and hits him with a Big Splash. Henry leaves the ring as the announcers promote that he will face Ryback in thirteen days at WrestleMania.
Alberto Del Rio will be in action against Antonio Cesaro in a Champion vs. Champion match, next.
-Commercial Break-
Ricardo Rodriguez hobbles out to the stage on crutches and his ankle in a boot. He is able to carry out the announcement for Alberto Del Rio.
WWE United States Champion vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion
Antonio Cesaro vs. Alberto Del Rio
They circle the ring and lock up. Cesaro quickly goes to work on the left arm. Del Rio twists out and kips up. Del Rio then twists the arm, but Cesaro gets to the ropes. Cesaro elbows him in the face and punches him down in the corner. Cesaro hits a European uppercut before dropping an elbow for a one count. Cesaro applies a neck vice, but Del Rio fights out. Cesaro knees him in the midsection and sends him to the ropes, but Del Rio holds on. Del Rio clotheslines him down a few times before ducking one and hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio waits for Cesaro to get up.
Zeb Colter comes out to the stage and distracts Del Rio. Cesaro quickly capitalizes by going to work on him with punches and kicks. Cesaro sends him to the corner and charges, but Del Rio puts him on the apron. Cesaro head-butts him and goes to the top rope, but Del Rio crotches him up there. Del Rio hits a superplex, and both men are now down. Jack Swagger all of a sudden appears at ringside, and he pushes Ricardo Rodriguez into the steel steps. Swagger drags him by the ankle to the barricade and swings Rodriguez’ broken ankle into it. Del Rio sees what is going on, and he attacks Swagger. Del Rio sends him into the barricade and kicks him in the face. Swagger retreats, and the referee calls for the bell. Del Rio has been counted out.
Winner by Count-Out: Antonio Cesaro
Match Rating: ¾ *
Cesaro laughs at Del Rio and Rodriguez as he celebrates his win. Del Rio then attacks him from behind, and he locks on the Cross Arm Breaker. Del Rio then goes back to checking on Rodriguez who is in a lot of pain at ringside.
They show a replay of the events that transpired between the Undertaker and CM Punk earlier in the night.
The Rock and John Cena will face a panel of five WWE Hall of Famers later tonight. Team Hell No will be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Prime Time Players vs. Team Hell No
Kane will start against Titus O’Neil. Kane kicks him before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Kane picks up a one count before tagging in Daniel Bryan. They both whip O’Neil into the corner. Bryan then kicks him down in the corner while screaming “No.” Kane is tagged back in, and he whips Bryan into O’Neil. Bryan then whips O’Neil into an uppercut for a one count. Kane wrenches the arm, but O’Neil fights him off. Darren Young is tagged in, and they beat Kane down in the corner. Young charges him, but Kane takes him out with a big boot. Bryan is tagged in, and they hit Young with a double-team hip toss. Bryan drops a knee on him for a one count.
Dolph Ziggler, Big E. Langston, and AJ come out to the stage to watch. Bryan kicks away at Young before sending him into the ropes. Young counters the whip and hits a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Bryan lands hard on his shoulder. O’Neil is tagged in, and he kicks and punches the shoulder. O’Neil uppercuts him down and taunts the crowd. Young is tagged back in, and he steps on Bryan before O’Neil gives him a front suplex on top of Bryan for a two count. Young applies a waistlock, but Bryan is able to fight up and elbow out. Young quickly knees him to stop the momentum, but Bryan soon goes into the ropes and hits a flying elbow. Kane is tagged in, and he punches Young down. Kane drops him with a big boot and a low dropkick to the face. Kane clotheslines him in the corner and whips him to the opposite one. Kane charges, but Young gets a boot up. Kane quickly comes back with a big boot for a near fall. Kane goes for a powerslam, but Young slides off. Kane comes back with a sidewalk slam, but O’Neil breaks up the pin. Bryan pulls the top rope down, bringing O’Neil to the apron. Kane big boots him off, and Bryan takes him out with a flying knee. Kane then catches Young with a Chokeslam for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Team Hell No
Match Rating: ¾ *
The Shield will be in action later tonight. Triple H will address his WrestleMania match against Brock Lesnar with his career on the line, next.
-Commercial Break-
They show a video highlighting the contract signing for the Triple H versus Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania. Paul Heyman taunted Triple H into attacking him before signing the contract. Heyman then revealed the stipulation to be No Holds Barred with Triple H’s career on the line.
Triple H’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a great reception. Triple H says for the first time ever, he finds himself going to the ring at WrestleMania with the stipulation being if he loses, he can never compete in the ring again. However, if you go to the ring against Brock Lesnar thinking your career might not be over, then you’ve already lost because Lesnar is a destroyer. He is a machine that can end your career at any moment, and that is a fact. Helmsley says he has had a twenty-year career where he has gone into the ring every night like his career and life depended on it. If Paul Heyman thinks that he’s made a grand coup by making this personal and putting his back against the wall, then he is mistaken. Helmsley has advice for Brock Lesnar: “Show up for WrestleMania like your career is on the line. Come to WrestleMania to fight like your life depends on it because, Brock, it very well might.” Helmsley says he is not coming to WrestleMania to wrestle. He’s not coming to fight. He is coming to kick Lesnar’s ass.
As Triple H leaves the ring, Wade Barrett’s music hits. Barrett stands in front of him, and Triple H kicks him in the groin. Triple H stands over him before leaving to the back. Barrett is supposed to compete next.
-Commercial Break-
Wade Barrett is still hunched over a bit in the ring recovering from the groin shot. He’s apparently going to compete.
Wade Barrett vs. The Miz
The Miz taunts him about his groin before hitting an inverted atomic drop. Miz then goes for the Figure Four Leglock, but Barrett scrambles out of the ring. Miz continues to taunt him. Miz ducks a clothesline, and he hits a traditional atomic drop. Miz hits another inverted atomic drop and goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Barrett scrambles out of the ring again. Barrett gets back in the ring, and he kicks Miz in the midsection. Barrett kicks him down in the corner. Barrett sends him to the opposite corner, and he catches Miz attempting a slingshot. Barrett puts him on the apron, and Miz shoulders him. Barrett cuts him off going to the top rope. Barrett clubs at him before kneeing him in the ribs for a near fall. Barrett drops an elbow before punching away at him. Barrett applies a chin lock, but Miz fights up. Barrett cuts him off and goes for a back suplex, but Miz flips through. Miz rolls him up for a two count.
Miz goes for the Reality Check, but Barrett pushes him into the ropes. Miz holds on, and Barrett charges into a nice back body drop over the top rope. Miz gets on the apron, and he takes him out with a double axe handle. Miz puts him back in the ring for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Barrett get a near fall on Miz. During the commercial, Barrett sent Miz into the barricade. Barrett chokes him on the ropes before kneeing away at him. Barrett then big boots him to the floor. Barrett taunts the crowd before leaving the ring to drive Miz into the apron. Barrett rolls him in the ring for another near fall. Barrett applies a submission, but Miz fights up and out. Barrett sends him to the corner, but he runs into a back elbow. Barrett charges again, and Miz hits a drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckle.
Miz ducks a clothesline and hits some left hands. Miz has a whip reversed, but he hits a flying forearm. Miz hits a high knee and a big boot. Barrett pulls himself up in the corner, and Miz clobbers him with his patented corner clothesline. Miz goes to the top rope and hits a double axe handle for a near fall. Barrett counters out of the Skull Crushing Finale and hits the Winds of Change for a near fall. Barrett can’t believe it. Barrett goes for The Wasteland, but Miz slides off. Barrett ducks a clothesline, and Miz blocks a kick. Miz takes him down for the Figure Four, but Barrett gets an inside cradle for a near fall. Miz quickly dropkicks him in the knees before going for another Figure Four Leglock. Barrett kicks him into the steel post shoulder first and rolls him up, but Miz kicks out. Barrett kicks him in the head for another near fall. Barrett pulls down his elbow pad and signals for the Bull Hammer. Miz ducks it and rolls him up for a near fall. Barrett puts him on the apron, but Miz slides under a big boot. Barrett is hung up on the top rope, and Miz knocks him off to apply the Figure Four Leglock for the win!
Winner by Submission: The Miz
Match Rating: * ½
Kane and Daniel Bryan are talking backstage. Bryan says he needs Kane to be focused, but Kane says he knows what he’s doing. Bryan says of course Kane does when he’s against the Prime Time Players. Dolph Ziggler and Big E. are different. Besides, they have AJ with them. Bryan says Kane goes nuts when she’s at ringside. They go back and forth over who isn’t over AJ when Kaitlyn interrupts. She asks if they ever listen to themselves. Kaitlyn says AJ has screwed everyone over. They need to move on. AJ sneaks up in the background and is listening. Bryan says AJ isn’t targeting Kaitlyn at WrestleMania. Kaitlyn says she’s just the best friend that tried to get her to dump her emotionally abusive troll of a boyfriend. Bryan says he was the best boyfriend she ever had. AJ strikes a nerve with both of them. Kaitlyn says if they want to keep their titles, they have to accept that this is the new AJ. Kaitlyn says she’s certifiably crazy, and AJ attacks her from behind. Kane and Bryan pull her off Kaitlyn and throw her out of the locker room.
The Rock and John Cena will face a Hall of Fame panel later tonight. The Shield will compete, next.
-Commercial Break-
The Great Khali, Justin Gabriel, and Zack Ryder vs. The Shield
The Great Khali will start off against Seth Rollins. Rollins punches and kicks him, but Khali simply pushes him off and clotheslines him down. Khali chops the chest before tagging in Zack Ryder. Ryder punches him and puts him in the corner. Rollins reverses a whip, but he runs into the knees. Rollins then sidesteps a missile dropkick. Rollins punches away at Ryder before tagging in Dean Ambrose. They perform a double-wishbone split. Ambrose puts him on the ropes and punches him before hitting a dropkick. Roman Reigns is tagged in, and Ambrose whips Ryder into a big elbow. Reigns throws Ryder into the corner and kicks him down. Ryder comes back with a back elbow, and Justin Gabriel is tagged in. Ambrose blind tags in as Gabriel gets the advantage, and he blindsides him. Reigns knocks the other partners off the apron as Ambrose tags in Rollins. Ambrose applies a bow and arrow stretch to Gabriel, and Rollins comes off the top rope with a falling knee for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Shield
Match Rating: ¼ *
The Great Khali gets in the ring to beat The Shield down, but they soon gain the advantage over him. They triple-team Khali before executing a triple powerbomb!
Sheamus’ music hits, and he comes out to the stage. Randy Orton follows him. They make their way to the ring by themselves. All of a sudden, Big Show comes through the crowd, and The Shield is trapped in the ring. They all get in the ring, and a brawl breaks out. Orton and Sheamus clear Reigns and Ambrose from the ring as Big Show gives Rollins a big back body drop. The Shield retreats through the crowd as Big Show bumps fists with his partners.
The Rock, the WWE Champion, and John Cena will face a Hall of Fame panel later tonight. A replay is then shown of Fandango assaulting Chris Jericho earlier tonight.
Josh Mathews catches Chris Jericho coming out of Vickie Guerrero’s office. Jericho is sporting a green bruise under his eye. Mathews asks what Jericho and Vickie were talking about. Jericho says when you’ve accomplished as much as he has, you have a bull’s-eye on your head. He’s earned respect and has been a champion. Fandango attacked him and kicked his ass twice in a row, and it means nothing. Thanks to Vickie Guerrero, Fandango gets his chance. On the grandest stage of them all, it will be Fandango versus Y2J Chris Jericho at WrestleMania. Jericho warns Fandango to be careful what he wishes for. Now that the bull’s-eye is on his forehead, he will never, ever be the same again.
Team Rhodes Scholars makes their way to the ring. Damien Sandow says they’re in the City of Brotherly Love, a city known for greasy sandwiches and a stadium that has an actual prison inside of it. Sandow demands silence. Sandow says they have a gift for the crowd. Sandow suggests they avert their eyes so they are not blinded by the dazzling incandescence of the Bella Twins. There will be a match, next.
-Commercial Break-
Team Rhodes Scholars w/ the Bella Twins vs. Brodus Clay and Tensai w/ the Funkadactyls
Brodus Clay starts against Damien Sandow. Brodus clotheslines him down before sending him to the corner for a clothesline. Tensai is tagged in. Brodus sets Sandow up for a sidewalk slam, and Tensai drops an elbow as he goes down. Sandow sidesteps a splash in the corner, but Tensai quickly shoulder blocks him down. Sandow avoids a Senton Splash, and Cody Rhodes is tagged in. Rhodes kicks away at him and hits a neckbreaker. Sandow is tagged back in, and he kicks away at Tensai. Rhodes is tagged back in, and he kicks away at Tensai as well. Rhodes applies an abdominal stretch, but Tensai fights out. Rhodes kicks him in the face and jumps off the second rope into an uppercut.
Brodus is tagged in, and he takes Rhodes down with a pair of clotheslines before knocking Sandow off the apron. Brodus hits a t-bone suplex and a corner splash. Rhodes rolls out of the ring, and the Bella Twins check on him at ringside. The Funkadactyls attack the Bella’s at ringside. Sandow uses the distraction to snap Brodus off the top rope, and Rhodes follows up with a Disaster Kick for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Team Rhodes Scholars
Match Rating: ½ *
Ryback will be in a three-on-one handicap match, next.
-Commercial Break-
A replay is shown from last week’s Smackdown. Ryback took Mark Henry down with a clothesline after his match against Zack Ryder.
3MB vs. Ryback
3MB take their time deciding who will start against Ryback. Heath Slater will start. Ryback scares the other two off the apron before taking some kicks from Slater. Ryback reverses a whip, misses a clothesline, and connects with a Thesz Press. Ryback slams his head against the apron before hitting a big splash. Drew McIntyre is tagged in, and Ryback powers him to the corner. Ryback chops him before hitting some shoulders. He knocks Slater and Mahal off the apron before eating a big boot. Jinder Mahal is tagged in, and he kicks away at Ryback. Mahal knees away at him before Slater tags back in. Ryback pushes him off, but Slater hits a roundhouse kick for a one count. Slater applies a front face lock, but Ryback powers him off. McIntyre is tagged in, and he clotheslines Ryback for a one count. McIntyre applies an arm bar, but Ryback fights up and counters out with a slam. Mahal is tagged in, and he hits a high knee for a one count. Mahal kicks away at him before tagging in Slater. Mahal whips Slater into the corner, but Ryback isn’t there.
Ryback drops Mahal with a meat hook clothesline. Ryback then throws Mahal into McIntyre, and they both hit the floor. Ryback then runs Slater over with a shoulder block. Ryback hits a nasty spinebuster on Slater and then on Mahal. Ryback then takes Mahal and Slater and lifts them for a Double Shell Shocked for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Ryback
Match Rating: ½ *
Ryback and Mark Henry will compete in a weight lifting competition on Friday Night Smackdown.
A replay is shown of Jack Swagger breaking Ricardo Rodriguez’ ankle last week on RAW. Another replay is shown of Swagger attacking Rodriguez again earlier tonight, but Alberto Del Rio fought him off.
AJ is skipping backstage. She’ll fight Kaitlyn, next.
-Commercial Break-
Arnold Schwarzenegger will be inducting Bruno Sammartino into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania.
AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn
AJ is smiling as the bell rings. Kaitlyn takes her down and punches away. Kaitlyn sends her to the corner and hits a back elbow. Kaitlyn whips her hard into the corner, and AJ goes down. Kaitlyn repeats the move for the same result. AJ grabs the ropes to back Kaitlyn off. AJ slaps her twice, so Kaitlyn sends her into the ropes for a shoulder block. Kaitlyn hits a gutbuster, and AJ rolls out of the ring. Kaitlyn follows and goes for a Spear, but AJ sidesteps her, causing her to hit the barricade shoulder first. AJ laughs as she gets in the ring and takes the count-out win.
Winner by Count-Out: AJ Lee
Match Rating: ¼ *
The Rock, the WWE Champion, and John Cena will face a Hall of Fame panel moderated by Jerry “The King” Lawler, next.
-Commercial Break-
Michael Cole announces that Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Big Show taking on The Shield is now official for WrestleMania XXIX.
Jerry “The King” Lawler is in the ring. It is decorated with a black carpet, two podiums, a table, and some chairs. Lawler says the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania with The Rock and John Cena will be historic. They’re going to make a little history tonight. In thirteen days, they’ll answer the ultimate question: who will be the WWE Champion? Tonight, they’ll answer questions from WWE Hall of Famers and superstars. Booker T is the first out. He’s the Smackdown General Manager and a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Mick Foley is out next. He’ll also be a member of the Hall of Fame this year. Current members of the Hall of Fame are next. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and Bret “Hitman” Hart make their entrances. They will present questions to The Rock and John Cena, next.
-Commercial Break-
The Rock, the WWE Champion, is introduced first. He comes out to a tremendous reception. John Cena is the last out, and he comes out to an equally great reception. They take their spots at the two podiums. Lawler says each of the legends will ask either of them a question. Once one of them responds, the other will have an opportunity. Mick Foley will lead off with the first question. Foley says it’s an honor to be on the panel. Almost ten years ago, he had an opportunity to team with The Rock at WrestleMania XX. Foley wound up losing the match for the team. He felt a deep sense of regret for not only losing, but also costing The Rock the opportunity to win at his final WrestleMania ever. Foley says he gets flack for being a John Cena fan, but he felt a tremendous sense of weight off his shoulders when The Rock beat him at last year’s WrestleMania. Foley says he knows how disappointed Cena was in the loss. Foley asks if he’s prepared to live with the type of regret that might accompany another loss at this year’s WrestleMania.
John Cena takes some time to respond. Cena says there is no mistaking that April 7 will be an historic day for the WWE. Whether he wins or loses, it is safe to say it will change the face of the WWE forever. If he wins, the story is an easy tell: he gets satisfaction, the WWE Championship, and much needed redemption. If you were to talk to him about losing last year, he wouldn’t speak of the subject because losing wasn’t an option. Then The Rock beat him last year. He knows damn well that losing is a real option. If Foley wants to hear about regret, then that’s a tougher story to tell. He wants to make him feel how he would feel about losing. John Cena simply says, “Donovan McNabb,” and the Philadelphia crowd boos. Cena says he’s the greatest Eagle to ever put on a uniform, but the crowd still boos him. McNabb could not win the big one. Philadelphia cares about its teams, and they have passion. They deserve someone who can win the big one, much like the WWE Universe. They’re invested in the WWE, and they look for a man who can win the big one. If he loses on April 7, he will carry the legacy of Donovan McNabb state-to-state, city-to-city, arena-to-arena he will get reaction after reaction of disdain. He would never be seen as a person who can win the big one. The Rock knows nothing of failure… not yet, but he soon will.
The Rock looks at Cena and says when he was twenty-three years old, he was so broke that he had to take his mattress out of a dumpster from a motel. He had to sleep on that. The next year, he got his big break. Six months after that, he flopped. He tore his knee up, and WWE sent him home. The Rock says he could have quit, but he worked his ass off and came back. When he came back to the WWE Universe, he said one thing: give me a microphone. Two years after that, he became the youngest WWE Champion and main evented WrestleMania in this very city. That reminds him of something, and he says, “Finally, The Rock has come back to Philadelphia!” The Rock came back to Philadelphia with the championship in one hand and cheesesteak in the other. That night, he got his ass kicked by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. He thought about the failure that night, but he made a decision to come back and work harder to be the greatest of all time. That man, those failures, led him to be the man that he is today. That man will whip John Cena’s ass at WrestleMania in thirteen days.
Bret Hart has the next question. Hart says they’re both good friends of his, but it pained him to watch the two of them. They got overtaken with bad blood like he did with Shawn Michaels. Something has changed now. What he wants to know is what happened? What changed? The Rock says two guys went at it last year wanting to be the best. There were no cheap shots or screw jobs. He beat Cena in the center of the ring, and he didn’t bitch or moan. He took it like a man, and he respects that.
Cena says this all started when he called him out in an interview. Cena said back then that if The Rock loved WWE then he should prove it, and he did. He hosted WrestleMania 27, and then beat him at 28. It was billed as “Once in a Lifetime” since it was in Miami and his opponent was handpicked. Cena thought he would take the victory and go off into the sunset. Then he proved that he loves the WWE even more by saying the night after that he would be WWE Champion, which he is right now. The Rock has proven his love and dedication. Cena respects The Rock, and he appreciates him saying that he took his loss like a man. In thirteen days, we’ll see how The Rock handles his.
Booker T is up next. Booker says he’s the only one who has been in the ring with the two of them. Booker says that’s pretty cool. His question is for Cena. Cena says he thinks he can beat The Rock at WrestleMania. Booker wants to know why he’s going to beat The Rock at WrestleMania. Cena simply says, “Because I have to.” Cena is starting to look angry. The Rock asks if that is it. Rock says that’s a shallow and weak answer. The Rock suggests he wipes a monkey’s ass with that answer. The Rock wants Cena to tell the truth. Cena then says that The Rock didn’t beat him. The Rock cannot beat him. He beat himself. That’s the first time he’s said that publicly, but it is fact. One bad decision. He got caught up in one personal moment. Some people like him, some people don’t, and that’s fine. Every week for ten years, he goes along with the ride. The Rock is the only person who could cloud his judgment enough. Cena had The Rock beat. He hit him with everything, but it wasn’t enough. He handled the best that The Rock had, so what does he do? He tries for a People’s Elbow. That will never happen again. This year at WrestleMania, he steps in the ring to do it his way and on his terms. Cena says he knows that he is better than The Rock. More importantly, The Rock knows that he is better than him.
The Rock says he does know that if Cena had him beat, he would have beaten him, but he didn’t. The world was watching. Cena threw everything at him, but he had an answer. Before the People’s Elbow, he hit him with an AA, and he kicked out. He still beat him. In front of these Hall of Famers, there is one more legend that he wanted to be just like. It’s no secret: “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.” The Rock says Cena can’t beat the man because he is not the man. Dusty goes to speak, but The Rock stops him. Rock says between him and Cena, Cena will never be the man.
Dusty Rhodes says they need to take the gloves off. WrestleMania isn’t about respect or redemption. It’s about winning or losing. There are no guarantees in this business. Sometimes you don’t always get what you want. Rhodes asks what the two of them really want on April 7. Cena says he wants to win the big one. He wants to dominate The Rock. At the end of WrestleMania, he wants The Rock to be looking up at MetLife Stadium. He’ll finally realize that John Cena belongs. The Rock will realize that he is better than The Rock. What he wants is to do to The Rock what he did to him: hand him a loss that is so devastating that it will haunt him for the rest of his life. That’s what he wants.
The Rock wonders whom John Cena thinks he’s talking to. Rock isn’t wired that way. The day after WrestleMania, The Rock will wake up still WWE Champion while Cena will wake up stuffing his face with Fruity Pebbles wondering why he can’t get the job done. The bottom line is this: if Cena wants to prove The Rock wrong, prove him wrong. The Rock dares him to do it right now. Rock comes to the center of the ring. Lawler tries to stop it, but Cena takes his shirt off and joins him in the middle of the ring. Rock pushes him, and Cena goes for the AA. The Rock slides off, and he hits John Cena with the Rock Bottom! The Rock takes his WWE Championship and goes to the back while Cena lies in the ring.
———-
Quick Match Results
Chris Jericho def. Dolph Ziggler via Submission
Mark Henry def. Jimmy and Jey Uso
Antonio Cesaro def. Alberto Del Rio via CO (non-title)
Team Hell No def. The Prime Time Players (non-title)
The Miz def. Wade Barrett via Submission (non-title)
The Shield def. The Great Khali, Justin Gabriel, and Zack Ryder
Team Rhodes Scholars def. Brodus Clay and Tensai
Ryback def. 3MB
AJ Lee def. Kaitlyn via CO (non-title)
My good friend Dave Stephens attended tonight’s RAW, so I’m very happy to be able to fill in for him.
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